The Best Way to Write a Winning College Entrance Essay

February 7, 2017

You only get one chance to make a first impression. The first time your dream college will learn about you is through your entrance essay. The people in charge of your future will decide whether you have what it takes or not based on your paper. Don’t let that opportunity slip past you by turning in a half-baked article. By using a few simple strategies, you can ensure that your paper is as persuasive as possible.

  1. Begin as Soon as Possible
  2. Putting things off to the last minute will only hurt you, so start writing down words now if you can. A perfect paper isn’t going to pop out of your head, no matter how long you wait to write it. Save yourself stress and energy. If you write fast, you can get to editing as soon as possible. Great writing comes from careful editing. Before you read any further, jot down a few stories you’d like to tell and points you want to make in your essay. Time is your most valuable resource – don’t let it go to waste.

  3. Keep Your Paper Focused
  4. Don’t feel like you need to cover your whole life story in your paper. Overstuffed writing tends to lose readers. It’s best if you choose one overarching idea and pick a handful of examples to back it up. Digging deeper into one story beats listing a dozen different life events. An in-depth approach is the difference between a resume and an essay. Remember, admissions professionals read piles of papers per sitting. They can only walk away with one big idea from each paper. Choose your concept and stick with it.

  5. Write Honestly
  6. Many applicants feel the urge to lie about themselves in their writing. The number one reason for this is a feeling of inadequacy. Most people believe they aren’t impressive enough on their own. Turning to lies out of self-doubt is a mistake. You want to present yourself in the best light possible, but you don’t have to lie to do this. You’ve lived long enough to have at least one inspiring story, so dig deep, find what you need, and polish it up. If you find yourself stumped, try to talk to people who know you. You might find that people are more interested in you than you think.

  7. Get Help Polishing Your Paper
  8. If you aren’t the best writer, you don’t need to panic. Not everyone excels at writing. That doesn’t mean you deserve punishment for common writing mistakes. You can avoid trouble by getting help. Teachers, volunteers, or professional writing companies can all assist you. There are many people out there who would be happy to read your writing and give you pointers. Even award-winning writers rely on their editors to produce professional-grade work. Never mail your essay off until you’ve shown it to at least one trusted advisor.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *